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Suspension Springs, sway bars, shocks.

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Old 02-23-2017, 04:46 AM   #1
Johjamkep
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Default To S52ish swapped Ti people: Suspension selection help wanted

I will be buying suspension for my Ti project soon. I will be using a turbo'd M52 engine and only street driving the car. I usually go with H&R/Koni combo and pretty much hate coilovers for the street. That said, what have you guys used and had a good experience with? I like BMW stock sport package suspension in newer cars and hope to be similar or maybe a notch stiffer but not extreme. Thanks!


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Old 05-01-2017, 09:26 PM   #2
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When I bought my car in 2012, I rebuilt my entire suspension system focused around Koni Sports and H&R Sports designed for the stock M44 in my 1996 318ti. Once I swapped in a six-cylinder engine (first an M52, followed recently by an S52), I bottomed-out on the lower cross-brace over every speed bump in the area.

As shown in my signature line below, I have since replaced the front H&R Sport springs with Eibach Pro-Kit springs (still using the Koni Struts discussed above), and this raised the front about 0.5". I also run a set of Racing Dynamics 28mm & 19mm swaybars, M3 front hubs/calipers, E34 rear calipers, braided SS brake lines, Hawk HP-S pads, DS-II wheels, Polyflex purple bushings throughout, and a Dinan alloy/carbon fiber upper cross-brace. However, I believe the 4-cyl front struts are still "overpowered."

I just picked up a set of used factory M3 strut housings on Craigslist (free!), and plan to drop-in a set of Koni Sport inserts designed for an M3. Then I will be able to (properly!) connect the adjustable sway bars directly to the strut housings instead of the LCAs.
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Sleeper Calypsorot 1996 318ti tintop. CA-legal swapped S52 from '98 M3, and ZF transmission with lightened flywheel/clutch. Magnaflow 2-into-1 muffler. Six-cylinder Eibach springs in front and 318ti H&R Sport springs in rear. Koni Sport adjustable dampers all around. Racing Dynamics 28mm & 19mm swaybars. M3 front hubs/brakes, E34 rear calipers, braided SS brake lines, Hawk HP-S pads. DS-II wheels. Polyflex purple bushings throughout, and factory lower x-brace. Fan delete mod. Engine mount reinforcements welded-in. 3.25 LSD rear diff from E28 & E30 axles.

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Old 05-01-2017, 09:30 PM   #3
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Thanks for the info. Are you using purple powerflex in rear subframe and trailing arms? If so, how you like compared to poly? Thanks


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Old 05-03-2017, 11:15 PM   #4
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Power flex, black or purple, is poly. I've got poly in subframe and delrin in trailing arms. It's too harsh for MI streets honestly


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Old 05-04-2017, 12:21 AM   #5
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Sorry I was not clear. I have been thinking of using Powerflex purple bushings in my rear subframe and trailing arms of my Ti. I fee like the black are too hard as my car will essentially be a street car that has pretty good power, not a race car. Which have you guys used and can you share your thoughts? Thanks


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Old 05-04-2017, 03:38 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Johjamkep View Post
Sorry I was not clear. I have been thinking of using Powerflex purple bushings in my rear subframe and trailing arms of my Ti. I fee like the black are too hard as my car will essentially be a street car that has pretty good power, not a race car. Which have you guys used and can you share your thoughts? Thanks


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IMO just go for the purple streets. You most likely won't gain anything except NVH and overall harshness with the black/track compound.
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Old 05-13-2017, 11:53 PM   #7
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Stock US M3 front suspension

M Roadster rear springs with m coupe sway bar.

Bilstein sports.

Great street set up that's fine for the occasional track run.
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Old 05-14-2017, 12:12 PM   #8
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M coupe swaybar front and rear? Thanks


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Old 05-14-2017, 02:32 PM   #9
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M3 front sway; but they might be the same part number.
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